One of the first things we learned as Tenderfoot Scouts was how to tie knots. We started with a square (reef) knot and went to hitches, lashing, bowlines and various others, including sheetbend, sheepshank, monkey fist and various fishing knots. I figured that the Bushcraft forum is an appropriate place for a knot discussion. Here are three good sites for learning to tie knots.

http://www.2020site.org/knots/

http://www.animatedknots.com/indexva...matedknots.com

http://www.realknots.com/index.htm

It is also helpful to have something to tie knots with. When I was in scouts we made these rope machines which consisted a frame with 3 wire hooks and a follower. It took 2 boys to make rope but it was fun trying to figure out how much sisal twine was required to make 12 feet of 1/2" diameter rope. Below are plans for the machine, a simpler machine from Scouts and hand making natural cordage.

http://www.ehow.com/how_6638164_buil...g-machine.html

http://usscouts.org/scoutcraft/BoyScoutRopemaking.pdf

http://www.wildwoodsurvival.com/survival/cordage/men79/
http://primitiveways.com/cordage.html